A comparison of the metacognitive beliefs and pathological Worry in students with Test anxiety disorder symptoms and normal students

Metacognition is a multi-dimensional concept that including knowledge, processes, and strategies for appraisal, monitoring, and control of cognition. The aim of this research was to investigate a comparison of the components of metacognitive beliefs and pathological Worry in students with test anxiety disorder symptoms and normal students. In this causal comparative study 670 students were selected from high school Students of Tabriz city by using cluster-random sampling and answer to spellberger Anxiety test questioner. Then 100 students with test anxiety disorder were selected and matched with 100 normal student. also they answered demographic questions and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) as well as Wells and Cartwright metacognitive questionnaire. Data were analyzed with multivariate analysis of variance. The results showed that there was significant differences between the scores of students with test anxiety and normal students in components of the metacognitive beliefs and pathological Worry (P<0. 01). Metacognitive beliefs are effective factors in student's general health. Also, it is possible to promote students’ mental health by changing metacognition beliefs which enhance maladaptive and negative thinking styles and general negative beliefs.